Two women injured in crash on I-290

NORTHBORO — Two elderly Bridgewater women were injured Thursday night when the van in which they were traveling crashed on Interstate 290 eastbound just before Exit 25.

The accident, reported to the state police barracks in Holden about 11:55 p.m., left both women trapped in the 2004 Toyota Sienna minivan that came to rest against the guardrail, according to Trooper Todd Nolan. It took a Fire Department rescue squad about a half hour to extricate one of the women from the van, which sustained significant damage.

Northboro EMS transported the women to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus where they remained hospitalized Thursday night. Trooper Nolan described their injuries as incapacitating, but not life-threatening.

He listed the driver as Carolyn Eldridge, 76, and the passenger as Shirley Wilbur, 80, both of Bridgewater.

It was unclear Friday what caused the van to leave the roadway. Trooper Nolan said it appeared that no other vehicles were involved, and the crash remained under investigation.

State police closed the left and center lanes early Friday morning while the accident scene was being cleared and the investigation conducted.